Red Kiva

While wandering home on Randolph yesterday, I spotted this lounge on the north side of the street just east of the garish Alhambra Palace, down the block from ADULT EROTIC STORE in the old Rhythm storefront. I was going to stop in for a drink, but the place was dead empty and I just couldn't enjoy the pink vibe alone. I did get check out the menu for food - the ubiquitous flatbreads. Some research turns up that it's been there for a year and that it is a club-type atmosphere best enjoyed much later by the much younger, but I always hope that a spot like this might just be turning out great cocktails and food at the start of the night for us foodies to enjoy. Any experiences? If their online menu is to be believed, the pizzas are served free to drink-orderers from 5-7 PM on weeknights.

http://www.redkiva.com/
1108 W. Randolph
312.226.5577

I've never eaten there, but was pleasantly surprised by how enjoyable a place it was for a couple of drinks. It's "clubby", but in a much more laid back way than other places. Music is not deafening, crowd is friendly, and service unpretentious. On one Friday evening, they had a really great live jazz band with no cover. 10:30PM is my bedtime, so perhaps the place becomes a whole new animal late at night, but I was long gone by then.